The Audiencia of Manila Reestablished

To Don Francisco Thello, my governor and captain-general of the Philipinas Islands.  Through God’s grace, the affairs of those islands are daily assuming greater proportions—­both because of the many exploring expeditions by which that island and the others of that great archipelago are becoming settled; and because of the Chinese trade and commerce, which likewise are a cause of increase in the consequence of affairs there.  Hence, in matters of justice, there should be such expedition as is desirable, without its being necessary for the parties to go to the City of Mexico, in order to carry on their cases—­thus spending and consuming their means in these long voyages, or else running risk of losing their rights.  And also, if you are disengaged from matters pertaining to justice, you will have more time for matters of government and war; or in important and arduous cases you may find it advisable to have those with whom to take counsel, that matters may be considered with the requisite continuity and by a sufficiently large body of advisers.  For these reasons, I have decided to reestablish an audiencia in that city of Manila, as in former years.  You shall be president thereof, holding this office with the offices of my governor and captain-general.  My purpose in advising you thereof is that, having taken note of it, you may do all that is requisite for the establishment of the Audiencia and the receiving of my royal seal.  This must follow the same procedure which would be observed in the reception of my royal person. [27] Accordingly, as soon as you shall hear of its arrival, you shall go to receive the seal, accompanied by the auditors, the fiscal, all the soldiers in military array, the citizen encomenderos, my officials, and all others in public positions.  The said seal will be contained in a box borne under a canopy, the supports of which shall be carried by the regidors of the city.  The box will be borne by a horse, richly caparisoned, and having on the two sides of its hangings, which must be of brocade or silk, two shields bearing my royal arms, the face [of the horse] being covered with cloths [a frontal] of the same [material].  You, with your retinue, shall precede the canopy, and the soldiers in military array, with their captains, under rule and command of the master-of-camp as general, shall follow it.  All of you shall go straight to the cathedral with bared heads, where the archbishop will be waiting, clad in his pontifical vestments, together with all his clergy.  He shall go to the door, where you and all the people shall stop.  Then you shall take the box in both hands, and shall approach the altar, near which in the principal chapel there shall be a chair of state.  There you shall place the box, and the archbishop shall repeat his prayers, beseeching our Lord to direct the founding of the said Audiencia for His good service,